STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Richmond County Savings Foundation presented a total of $24,000 in grants to seven not-for-profit organizations serving the Staten Island community.

The checks were presented at the foundation's Bloomfield office by Cesar J. Claro, the foundation's executive director.

Representatives from each of the following organizations were on hand to accept a grant for their program: Travis Fourth of July Celebration Committee, $10,000; North Shore Rescue Squad No. 1, Inc., $5,000; Second Chance Gospel Music Convention, Inc., $3,000; Richmond County Orchestra, Inc., $3,000; Musical Chairs Chamber Ensemble, Inc., $1,500; Freedom From Fear, Inc., $1,000; No More Tears Rescue Corp., $500.

The Richmond County Savings Foundation was established in 1998 as part of the conversion of the Richmond County Savings Bank to a public company. To date, the foundation has committed more than $43 million in funding to not-for-profit organizations.

Northfield Bank Foundation presented $12,000 to The New York Center for Interpersonal Development, St. George.

The check was presented at the center's offices by the Northfield Bank Foundation's Executive Director Diane Senerchia and chairwoman Susan Lamberti to Dominick Brancato, executive director of the New York Center and Erin Neubauer-Keyes, program director of the Supervised Visitation Program.

The funding will go towards providing operational support for the Center's Supervised Visitation Program. The Supervised Visitation Program allows children to see their non-custodial parent, the parent who does not have physical custody of the child, in an environment that is safe for both the child and the parent. Supervised visits become necessary when the court requires that visits between a child and their non-custodial parent be supervised by a third neutral party. Courts may require this type of visitation when custody disputes become complicated or when parents have a history of issues such as substance abuse. The visits are overseen by professional observers whose job it is to provide information to the court on the visit and insure the safety of all involved in the visit.

Currently, the New York Center program charges participating families on a sliding scale in accordance with federal poverty guidelines.

The program offers services to families referred by the Richmond County Integrated Domestic Violence Court, Family Court, and Supreme Court. It can accommodate 18 family visits per Saturday. The program is located in the New York Center's office, located at 130 Stuyvesant Pl. St. George.

The check was presented by at the center by Northfield Bank Foundation's Executive Director Diane Senerchia and board member Lucille Chazanoff to Jack Pease, president and CEO of Eger Lutheran Homes and Services and Vienna Profeta, senior vice president of development at Eger.

Funds will go toward purchasing a digital television for the center's lobby area making it available for use to all the center residents.